SOCIAL DATA SCIENCE
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
2016-07-09
AGENDA
oSocial Data Science
o Intros, Housekeeping, etc
oWhy water, why now?
oWho’s got the data?
oWho’s an expert?
oWhat can we do?
o Open Discussion
71%
Water
Only
1.7% is
fresh
WHY NOW: WORLD
o#1 risk according to World Economic Forum
o Climate Change
o World population growth
o Agriculture
o Water pollution
o1.8 billion people in areas with scarcity problems by 2025
o2/3 of world population in water stressed regions by 2025
WHY NOW: CALIFORNIA
oNo Winter Snow = No Resupply
oUnderground water is stop-gap
o Does not replenish quickly
oMore people than ever
o 1970 > 20million
o 2016 nearly 40million
WHY NOW: FLINT, MI
oSwitched water supply
o 19x more corrosive than previous
o Ate into iron & lead pipes
o Researches found water to be toxic
o $100/day could have avoided issue
WHY NOW: MINNESOTA
oAdrian, MN
o Farm chemicals polluted wells
o 1 of 8 communities now treating for nitrates
oNorth Shore
o High levels of mercury in water
o 1 in 10 babies born with unhealthy levels
WHY NOW: MINNESOTA
oThreats facing lakes
o Excess nutrients = algae blooms
o Road water runoff (salt & chloride)
o Construction sediment
o Invasive Species (Zebra muzzels)
WHY NOW: MINNESOTA
oThreats facing rivers & streams
o Similar pollutant issues as lakes
o Erosion
o Course alteration
o Invasive Species (Asian Carp)
oImpacts those living outside of MN
WHY NOW: MINNESOTA
oThreats facing wetlands
o Similar pollutant issues as lakes
o Draining & Filling
oBenefits watershed health
o 50% of historical wetlands gone in MN
WHY NOW: MINNESOTA
oThreats facing groundwater
o Land use practices
o Industrial contamination
o Overuse
o Road salt
oSource of 75% of drinking water in MN
o Used for nearly all crop irrigation
MN POLLUTION CONTROL
AGENCY
oSurface water monitoring
o Discharge
o Biology
o Chemistry
o Flow
o Geographic
MN POLLUTION CONTROL
AGENCY
oGroundwater monitoring
o Groundwater stations
o Drinking Water Supply Mgmt Areas
o Watersheds
MN POLLUTION CONTROL
AGENCY
oGroundwater monitoring
o Groundwater stations
o Drinking Water Supply Mgmt Areas
o Watersheds
MN DEPT OF HEALTH
oDrinking Water
o Community Water Systems
o Contaminants
o Private Wells
o Arsenic
MN DEPT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
oLake & River Surveys
o Water Quality/Clarity
o Fish & Aquatic Plant
oGroundwater Monitoring
o Water level
MN DEPT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
oStream Gaging
o Flooding
o Water Speed
oWater Use Permits
o Irrigation
o Industrial
o Water Supply
o Power Generation
MN DEPT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
oClimatology
o Weather
oWatershed Health
o Hydrology
o Geomorphology
o Biology
o Connectivity
o Water Quality
MET COUNCIL
oWastewater Treatment
o Asset & Infrastructure Data
oIndustrial Permit Data
o Spill Reporting
oWater Quality Management
o Toxins
o Sediment
o Bacteria
OTHER GROUPS
o Governor’s Water Summit
o Freshwater Society
o Water-Bar
o Nature Conservancy
o Minnesota Environmental Partnership
o MN Board of Water & Soil
o MN Dept of Agriculture
o MPR
STARTER IDEAS
oFiscal Data
o Haves & have-nots of quality water
oTime Series Analysis
o Which areas are getting better/worse?
oImpact of weather
o Where & when does weather cause issues?